. >> some of the largest tech companies in the world are teeming up against the national security agency. they all want to limit the federal government from collecting their user information. the companies want more oversight and accountability from organizations like the nsa. we have more in washington and what steps are these companies taking against the nsa? >> reporter: well, for the moment we have this open letter that was published in several newspapers and the elusive agency of several principles that should governor future surveillance by the u.s. government. at the core of those principles is an end to the mass bulk data collection of national security agency. what we learned over the last few months from whistle blower edward snowdon is the nsa is hoovering up vast quantities of information whether you're an american citizen or not and storing it. they say that has to stop. they also say that what is needed is more oversight legal framework. they're getting worried. they fear the more we learn about the u.s. government's surveillance for americans and non-americans, but the les